Anti-Fluoride Campaign's Kansas Influence Grows

A Kansas man who helped defeat fluoridation in Wichita, Kan., last year has turned his attention to Portland.

Although Clean Water Portland, which opposes Measure 26-151, which would fluoridate Portland's water, has slipped well behind the pro-fluoride campaign, Healthy Kids, Healthy Portland in the money race, the "no" campaign is attracting healthy contributions from out-of-state fluoride foes.

Over the weekend, Clean Water Portland disclosed $43,000 in contributions from James Garvey, whose family real estate firm is one of Wichita's biggest.

Garvey is a founder of the Kansas Taxpayers Network, which earlier gave Clean Water Portland $6,000 and which the Wichita Eaglereported was the largest contributor last year to a campaign that defeated fluoridation in Witchita. The Kansas Taxpayers Network says its mission is to "represent Kansas taxpayers at the state and local
level by advocating limited taxes and government spending to create a
free market environment."

Wichita, a city of 384,000, according to the Census Bureau, rejected fluoride in 2012 by a margin of 60 percent to 40 percent.

Clean Water Portland also reported a $5,000 contribution from the Fluoride Action Network of Binghampton, N.Y. and $3,000 from Abundant Living Resources of Orem, Utah.

Clean Water Portland has now raised $175,000 and has $83,000 on hand. Healthy Kids, Healthy Portland has raised $562,000 and has $185,000 on hand.

"In the low usage areas, we found that our vehicles sit idle four times longer, ultimately affecting overall vehicle availability for the Portland membership base, as well as parking for the Portland community."

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